Abstract: An adapter is provided for the conventional can opener which allows the can opener to be used for removing the top of a common aluminum type beverage can. A circular ring sized to slidably fit the outside of a beverage can is held in position by a support member which includes a mounting flange which can be secured to an outward extending flange of a can opener. A clamp or other suitable fastener may be used for attaching the adapter to the can opener. The support member holds the can positioning ring so that the bottom portion of the can is tilted outward and slightly forward from the can opener cutting mechanism. The rotation of the cutting wheel is reversed from normal so that the forward portion of the can is drawn into the cutting edge to permit the can top to be severed and the remaining edge rolled under. The adapter allows the opened beverage can to be used as a beverage glass, a baking pan, or a container for potted plants.

Abstract: The trailer of this invention comprises a plurality of readily foldable or separable components to provide a full width trailer for hauling conventional goods or a narrow trailer for special hauling purposes or for storage in a limited space. In addition it may be readily dismantled into a group of relatively small components which may be packed in a vehicle trunk or in a small storage space. In one form it includes two side frames with upstanding side boards, a leaf spring detachably connected under each side frame, and a wheel carrying stub axle fixedly connected to the spring. Cross braces connect the two frames and a cross-axle assembly of variable effective length connects the two stub axles. Fore and aft floor boards are hingedly connected to the frames and to each other, and one or more may be folded to define a narrower trailer on occasion. The trailer may be dismantled into the components mentioned for storage or transport.

Abstract: A process for recovering silver from chloride solutions comprising contacting the solution with amalgams of various metals from Groups 2b, 4a, 5a, or 8b of the periodic table or copper to replace the metal with silver and recovering silver from the formed silver amalgam. The process provides an improvement in the process for recovering copper from its ores in which the copper in the ore is solubilized as cuprous copper in a leach liquor and the copper recovered from the leach liquor as cuprous chloride by crystallization, the improvement being the removal of silver from the leach liquor prior to crystallization by use of the amalgam to produce substantially silver-free cuprous chloride crystals.

Abstract: In a process for improving coal wherein the raw coal is treated with a metal containing compound in order to enhance the magnetic susceptibility of certain impurity components contained in the raw coal permitting their removal by magnetic separation, the improvement comprising pretreating the coal by heating it to at least a temperature for at least a period of time sufficient to essentially meet or exceed a time and temperature relationship expressed as:D .gtoreq. K[50/T-90].sup.3wherein D is time in hours and T is temperature in degrees Celsius, and wherein K is preferably at least about 0.5, more preferably at least about 5, and most preferably at least about 25.

Abstract: In a process for improving coal containing elemental sulfur wherein the coal is treated with a metal containing compound in order to enhance the magnetic susceptibility of various impurities contained within the coal thereby permitting their removal by magnetic separation, the improvement comprising removing at least a portion of the elemental sulfur prior to performing the magnetic susceptibility enhancement treatment.

Abstract: A multiple deck trommel screen is provided having at least an inner course screen and an outer fine screen, both having a diameter greater than the rotating drum to which they are attached for separating fines from course material. A deflector plate is provided at the end of the trommel screen for impingement of air-borne particles so that they fall on the inner trommel screen. A first hopper is provided under the outer trommel screen for receiving the fines and a second hopper is provided beyond the end of both of the trommel screens for receiving the course material. The outer trommel screen is made up of generally flat screen sections which extend as chords around the periphery of a trommel screen frame.

Abstract: The desulfurization of both inorganic and organic sulfur constituents of coal by treating the coal in a liquid fused salt bath in the presence of chlorine to react the sulfur containing constituents with chlorine to form chlorides and elemental sulfur. The liquid fused salt bath is comprised of the chlorides of ferric iron, alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, ammonia, and zinc.

Abstract: A process for recovering vanadium values from carbonaceous type vanadium ores, and vanadium scrap, such as vanadium contaminated spent catalyst, is disclosed which comprises roasting the vanadium containing material in air at a temperature less than about 600.degree. C to produce a material substantially devoid of organic matter, subjecting said roasted material to a further oxidizing roast in an oxygen atmosphere at a temperature of at least about 800.degree. C for a period sufficient to convert substantially all of the vanadium to the soluble form, leaching the calcine with a suitable dilute mineral acid or water at a pH of neutral to about 2 to recover vanadium values, precipitating vanadium values as iron vanadate from the leach solution with a soluble iron compound at a pH from neutral to about 1, and recovering ferrovanadium from the iron vanadate by a reduction vacuum smelting operation.

Abstract: A motor driven inoculator is provided wherein a plurality of bacteriological transfer loops are mounted on a common head and are activated in response to the positioning of a tray of inoculum to cause the head to be lowered and then raised so that the loops pick up a sample of inoculum. The subsequent positioning of an antibiotic or antimicrobic microtube plate, etc. causes the head to be lowered and raised a second time so that the loops are lowered into the plate to place samples of inoculum in each of a plurality of wells in the plate by dispersion. The removal of the antibiotic plate initiates a sterilizing cycle wherein the head is lowered and raised a third time whereby the loops are heated to a very high temperature by passing electrical current therethrough to volatilize all material thereon and then they are subsequently air cooled prior to the beginning of the next cycle. In an alternative embodiment the inoculum on the loops may be dispersed by percussion.

Abstract: A generally H-shaped knob spring is provided which comprises two flat members joined by a center bowed member. The spring is received in an undercut slot adjacent one side of a recess in a knob for receiving the end of a shaft, the bowed portion extending into the recess. When the shaft is inserted in the recess, the bowed portion of the spring is flattened out causing the end strips to be bent to bite into the surface of the slot and the surface of the shaft adjacent the slot wherein the spring releasably grips the knob and the shaft to hold the knob securely on the shaft so that it does not wobble or twist thereon.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for recovering gold from solution by means of adsorbing the solution onto a silica-containing catalyst to form a gel, reducing the gold with oxalic acid, removing the precipitated gold by washing, and recycling the catalyst and any unused reducing agent immediately to the adsorption step. The size of the gold particle produced is directly proportional to the grade of the catalyst used; recovery is greater than 99% effective.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a high frequency, high voltage generator, a therapeutic instrument for applying an electric current to a patient, a compound electrical power and control cable connected between the generator and the instrument, and a switch for selectively connecting at least one signal current conductor in the cable to a therapeutic current conductor in the cable to complete a circuit through an activating device for controlling the action of the generator. The cable includes a multiple strand bare therapeutic current conductor wire and preferably two single strand wires with film coatings of low voltage insulation, all of the wires being enclosed in a protective sheath of high voltage insulation. A high voltage is impressed on all of the wires but the voltage differential is very small so that the bare conductor is adequately insulated from the others by the film coatings, with a resulting savings in weight and cost of wire and insulation and improved flexibility.

Abstract: A method of storing hydrogen in which gaseous hydrogen is sorbed in titanium-vanadium-manganese and titanium-vanadium-iron alloys at room temperature and moderate

Abstract: A feeding apparatus for a pneumatic conveying system comprising a guide chute and a rotary pocket feeder. The guide chute includes a plurality of parallel rod members positioned across its inlet, an upper and lower rotating tine means, and an adjustable sized outlet. The upper and lower tine means are rotated in the same direction about parallel, vertically spaced axes and have tine members that extend outwardly of their respective axis to mesh with each other. The tine members of the upper tine means also mesh with the rod members to assist in bringing material into the chute where the material is conveyed through the variable sized outlet into the pocket feeder for delivery to the conduit of a pneumatic conveying system. The empty return portion of the pocket feeder is vented into the upper portion of the chute to prevent any pressure remaining in the pocket feeder from blowing back into the chute outlet.

Abstract: An animal guard assembly for protecting pedestals for underground telephone lines or electrical transmission lines comprising an animal guard assembly carrying animal repelling elements, such as, barbs, mounted on a support arm and means for removably attaching the support arm to a pedestal or a support for the pedestal in various positions so that the animal guard assembly can be moved to various orientations to protect the pedestal against rubbing by animals, and the support arm carrying the barbs removed to permit workmen to work around the pedestal.

Abstract: Animal guard assembly for attaching to a support member for an electrical pedestal or to the top of the pedestal for guarding against animals rubbing same, the device comprising an outer support assembly or guard member carrying animal repelling elements such as barbs, and an inner attachment assembly for securing the guard member to a post-like member. The guard member carrying the barbs is rotatable and removable from the inner attachment assembly so that it can be removed to permit access to the electrical pedestal.

Abstract: A method for making an alloy of aluminum and silicon with rare earth metals and metals of Groups 4b, 5b and 6b of the Periodic Table in which the flux system CaF.sub.2 -CaO-Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 is used as a solvent to provide a reactive medium for the reactions through which alloys are formed, the method comprising reducing the oxides of the alloying metals with aluminum in the presence of silicon in the flux maintained liquid at a temperature between about 1250.degree. C - 1600.degree. C while maintaining the flux basic to suppress the activity of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 and forming the alloys in the flux from the reduced metals.

Abstract: An improvement in the method for recovering marketable values of solder, lead, and a zinc chloride-ammonium chloride solution from solder skimmings which comprises grinding the skimmings, water leaching the skimmings to dissolve the zinc chloride and ammonium chloride, screening the leach residue to recover solder from the leach slurry, separating the ammonium and zinc chloride solutions from the lead chloride in the leach slurry, and contacting the lead chloride with an alkaline flux, a reductant, and an oxygen-containing gas under heat to recover lead from the lead chloride.

Abstract: A lift beam assembly for lifting heavy objects having a main support body and a pair of lift arms pivotally suspended at each end of the body. The free end of each lift arm has an aperture which is sized to fit over and engage lifting trunnions or bosses provided on the object. A latching mechanism is provided for each lift arm whereby through the latching mechanism, each arm can be independently moved from a first outwardly extended, open position to a closed, vertical lifting position. The latching mechanism includes a locking arrangement to hold the lift arms in their desired position. The lift assemblies can be arranged for redundant operation whereby two assemblies are suspended in crossed, perpendicular arrangement from a single lifting hook. An elongated tool is provided for engaging the latching mechanisms so they can be operated from a remote location either above or below the lift assembly.

Abstract: The apparatus of the invention substantially accomplishes the functions of a so-called "fifth wheel coupler" which provides a pivotal mounting for the forward end of a trailer tow bar on the center line of the towing vehicle and directly above its rear axle. The apparatus includes forward hitch means on the aft portion of the towing vehicle carrying first attachment members at the aft end of the vehicle, and aft hitch means on the forward portion of the trailer carrying second attachment members at the forward end of the trailer.